FOR A sector at the frontline of Australia's digital border, the licensing process for customs brokers remains surprisingly analogue.
As a licensed customs broker myself — albeit non-operating — I received my most recent licence renewal paperwork in the post in the lead-up to its expiry on 30 June 2024.
That's right: not an email, not a secure portal, but a physical paper form mailed to my address. There was no tracking, no confirmation of when it was sent and no way to proactively update my contact or employment details in the lead-up to renewal.
If a customs broker has changed address or employer, there's every chance the paperwork could go astray, placing their licence and business continuity at risk.
This outdated process applies not just to individuals, but also to corporate customs brokerages (like individuals also licensed for three years) and licensed premises such as Section 77G depots (licensed annually). For all the talk of digitisation across government and trade, the licensing framework remains firmly stuck in the past.
From the perspective of Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA), this is low-hanging fruit for reform.
FTA has consistently raised this issue during engagement with the Australian Border Force (ABF), advocating for the establishment of a secure online portal for customs broker licensing.
This would provide a central platform where individual customs brokers could:
- View and update their contact or employment details.
- Complete licence renewals entirely online.
- Receive formal notices or correspondence, including any infringement actions.
- Maintain a clear audit trail of interactions with the regulator
Likewise, a portal for corporate brokerages could allow management of depot licences and, where appropriate, a level of visibility over the status of their nominee customs brokers. This is especially relevant in an environment where compliance obligations are increasing.
Security concerns can be addressed through strong identity verification and two-factor authentication (2FA), consistent with best practice across government and commercial systems.
A relevant model already exists in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry's (DAFF) Approved Arrangement Management Product (AAMP). That platform allows biosecurity industry participants to view and update their Approved Arrangement (AA) details via self-service, without unnecessary departmental intervention. It saves time for both parties while improving data integrity.
FTA believes a similar system for customs broker licensing should be a core component of the government's Simplified Trade System (STS) reform agenda. Yet to date, it has not been progressed.
While licensing may appear administrative on the surface, modernising the framework would deliver a range of benefits:
- Reduce regulatory burden on ABF and industry.
- Improve communication reliability and data accuracy.
- Support workforce flexibility and continuity.
- Enhance compliance and record-keeping
- Better reflect the digital nature of modern trade
With trade volumes on the rise and the number of licensed customs brokers continuing to decline, we must do more to support the long-term sustainability of the profession—not just through education and recruitment, but by improving the systems that underpin it.
Customs brokers play a critical role in facilitating secure, compliant and efficient trade. They deserve a licensing system that reflects their professionalism and the expectations of a 21st-century digital border.
Now is a good time to get it done.
This opinion piecee by Sal Milici, General Manager, Trade Policy and Operations at FTA | APSA appeared in the August | September 2025 edition of DCN Magazine